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IITM BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology: What We Know

By Editorial TeamLast reviewed

5 min read
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IIT Madras launched a non-campus BS in Aeronautics and Space Technology on 9 February 2026. It works like the other IITM BS programmes: you study online, write quizzes and exams in person, and travel to IIT Madras for some lab courses. You need Class 12 with Physics and Maths. Students who qualified to write JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 can join directly. The official academics page lists a total fee of Rs 6,12,000 before waivers. The programme is new, so there is no outcome data yet.

At a glance

ItemWhat the official pages say
Launched9 February 2026
Levels and creditsFoundation 32, Diploma 52, BS 58, total 142
ExitsFoundation Certificate, Diploma in Aeronautics, BS degree
Who can applyClass 12 with Physics and Maths, any year, any age
Total feeRs 6,12,000 before waivers
Time4 to 8 years, about 15 hours per course each week
ExamsIn person at centres in India and some cities abroad

Who can apply

  • Anyone who has passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics and Maths, whatever their age.
  • Students who passed Maths and Physics separately through NIOS or a similar board.
  • Holders of an AICTE diploma, which the admissions page lists as a Class 12 equivalent.
  • Class 11 students who have written their final exams can apply, but join only after passing Class 12.

The launch press release said the programme is open to Class 12 and diploma holders without JEE. Separately, the admissions page says candidates who qualified to attempt JEE Advanced in 2025 or 2026 count as directly qualified. They can register for Foundation courses without the qualifier. See JEE entry.

The qualifier

The qualifier gives you 4 weeks of content in English I, Math for Electronics I, Electronic Systems Thinking and Circuits, and Introduction to C Programming. These are the same four courses as the Electronic Systems qualifier. Weekly assignments decide who gets a hall ticket, and then there is an exam in person.

  • Application fee: Rs 4,000 (General, OBC, EWS), Rs 2,000 (SC, ST, PwD), Rs 1,000 (SC or ST and also PwD).
  • Validity: the admissions page says the qualifier marks are valid for three terms.
  • September 2026 term: the last date to apply is 27 September 2026, and the qualifier exam is on 15 November 2026.

One warning. The pass table on the Aeronautics admissions page shows 40% overall and 50% per course for General candidates. That is the reverse of the ES and DS rule, which is 40% per course and 50% overall. It may be an error on the page. Confirm with support before you rely on it.

What you study

LevelCreditsExamples of courses
Foundation32English I and II, Math for Electronics I and II, Introduction to Aerospace Systems, Engineering Mechanics
Diploma52Fluid Mechanics, Aerodynamics, Gas Dynamics, Flight Dynamics I, Applied CFD, Finite Element Analysis, two labs and two projects
BS58Gas Turbine Propulsion, Rocket Propulsion for Space Applications, Aircraft Structures, a design project on MAVs and UAVs, plus 21 elective credits

The landing page says the focus is aviation, defence and space, including unmanned aerial systems and space technology.

Fees

LevelCredits and rateLevel fee
Foundation8 credits at Rs 1,500 and 24 at Rs 2,000Rs 60,000
Diploma48 credits at Rs 4,000 and 4 at Rs 3,000Rs 2,04,000
BS58 credits at Rs 6,000Rs 3,48,000
Total142 creditsRs 6,12,000

Fee waivers of 50% to 75% are available for eligible SC, ST, PwD, EWS and OBC-NCL students, based on family income. The academics page says waivers do not apply to students based outside India.

Labs and campus time

Labs are held in person at IIT Madras on dates announced in advance. The academics page says some lab courses at the Diploma and BS levels need travel to campus. At the BS level, you can do all courses on campus in person or continue in a hybrid mode. The landing page says the campus option is for selected students, through an interview. To enter the BS level you need a Diploma CGPA of at least 6.0 and a project CGPA of at least 7.0. For how campus access works in general, see campus access for BS students.

What is not known yet

  • Placement, internship or salary results. The launch release mentioned internship and placement support through CODE at IIT Madras, but no data exists for a programme this new.
  • How many campus visits each year, and how long each lasts.
  • Whether there is a lab kit, and its cost.
  • Checkpoint rules. The Aeronautics pages we read give 4 to 8 years overall but do not list checkpoints.
  • Minors, if any.

If you are already in Electronic Systems, the ES handbook has switch material for some batches. See switching from ES to Aeronautics.

Common questions

Is this a campus aerospace degree?

No. It is a non-campus BS programme with online content, like the Data Science and Electronic Systems degrees. Only some labs, and the optional campus route at the BS level, happen at IIT Madras.

Can I apply with Biology instead of Maths?

Not directly. You need Physics and Maths in Class 12. The admissions page allows passing those two subjects separately through NIOS or a similar board.

Is there a BSc exit?

The official pages list three exits: a Foundation Certificate at 32 credits, a Diploma in Aeronautics at 84 credits and the BS at 142 credits. No BSc exit is listed.

Are there graduates or placement numbers yet?

No. The programme was launched in 2026, so no batch has finished it and no outcome data has been published.

Official sources

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